How I Float: Why I Chose My Everett Boat
I’d always wanted a way to explore Everett’s waters, but buying a boat can be expensive, not to mention overwhelming for a newbie like me. Which is why I’m thrilled to have finally found the right fit.
A four-seater dinghy with an electric trolling motor. After my recent kayak rental, I was finally inspired enough to find a boat of my own. I found the boat used on Facebook Marketplace after only searching for a couple days.
Fits like a glove, err … an inflatable boat! // Garret Hunt
One thing I love about this setup is the fact that it’s inflatable, which makes it easy to throw in the back of my car. I was never interested in a large boat that would require me to store a trailer, or even more costly, pay a monthly rental fee to have it moored at the Everett Marina.
I also love that it’s big enough for my family of three to bring a cooler and toys with us over to Jetty Island. And even though it has oars, if currents get strong, I’m happy to have the small trolling motor for an extra boost. Amenities I don’t think a kayak or canoe would have provided.
The entire setup with the boat, motor, electric pump, etc cost $650. It would have been close to double that price brand new. And it was practically in new condition; the previous owner only used it four times.
It fits in a bag too … well, the boat itself does. The motor and other pieces take up a bit more room // Garret Hunt
Another nice thing about buying used was not only did I get everything together in one stop, but the seller was even nice enough to spend an hour showing me exactly how everything worked. This helped put my mind at ease, being the newbie boater I am.
Speaking of being a newbie, I did get a few raised eyebrows when I told people I was planning to take it out on the Everett waterfront. “You’re going out there in that?!” They’d say.
Looks like an official Everett boater // Richard Porter
Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not boating over to Langley or out on the open sea with this thing. It’s mostly just for getting over to Jetty Island and exploring Everett’s waters on nice, fair-weather days. A fair-weather cruiser.
And the two times I’ve had it out on Everett’s waters so far, it did great. Though I have found I pretty much have to run the motor at full speed for it to do much in Everett’s waters, which drains the battery faster. But for the short jaunts I go on, that works just fine.
Though there certainly are plenty of other good options out there.
The Rourke family tow their canoe behind a bicycle and go crabbing. That works for them.
The Jones family opted for an inflatable 3-person kayak last summer “as a covid treat.” Rosemary Jones shared with me, “It was my favorite thing about last summer, and I’m eager to get out in it again this year!” They wanted to avoid PVC and bought their kayak from Innova Kayaks.
My father-in-law used to launch his jet ski in Everett and photograph birds and wildlife on the Snohomish River and slough regularly. It was one of his favorite hobbies.
And of course, there’s nothing wrong with getting a larger traditional boat, either.
Jetty Island trip with family // Dallas Hunt
The moral of the story is, there’s more than one way to boat the Everett waterfront. And whether it's paying a few bucks to rent a paddle board, or tens of thousands on a yacht, there are plenty of options in-between that just might meet your needs.
How do you boat the Everett waterfront?
Are you a boating newbie? Sign up for a free Boating Safety class.
Garret is the co-founder + CEO of Live in Everett. He’s also journeying toward wholeness at GarretHunt.com.